Abstract: A height-adjustable cart is provided and includes an undercarriage having a wheeled frame, a double scissor-type lift mechanism and a support frame which is height-adjustable relative to the wheeled frame by the lift mechanism. The wheeled frame includes a pair of extendable rear wheel supports which are each pivotable between a retracted position and an extended position. While in the retracted position, the wheels are in close proximity to the frame, thereby defining a small cart “footprint” for compact storage. While in the extended position, the wheels extend transversely away from the frame, thereby widening the cart “footprint” for stability and for ease of transportation. The height-adjustable cart further includes a detachable table onto which heavy equipment may be loaded. The detachable table includes wheels suitable for carrying the weight of the equipment and for transporting the heavy equipment thereon separate from the undercarriage.

Abstract: IV pole having mounted at an upper end a holding assembly comprising a head and a plunger, and at a lower end a docking assembly. The head on an upper portion includes at least two opposed upwardly extending projections suitably for hanging IV fluid containers. The plunger is movable between an extended position in which the plunger is held a distance above the height of the projections, and a retracted position in which the plunger is proximate to the projections such that removal of IV fluid containers hung on the projections is prevented. The smooth profile of the head and plunger greatly reduces the risk of the IV pole getting snagged on an obstruction or causing injury to rescue personnel. The docking assembly permits the IV pole to be removably secured to a docking port provided to a structural member and to be lowered to a stowed position.

Abstract: An organic field ionization source is provided including an ionization needle, an extraction electrode, a voltage source, and a heated reservoir. The ionization needle defines a tip. The extraction electrode defines an extraction aperture therein and the extraction electrode is positioned such that the extraction aperture is disposed proximate the tip of the ionization needle. The voltage source is arranged to maintain the tip of the ionization needle at a high potential relative to the extraction electrode. The heated reservoir contains an organic ion source material therein in contact with the ionization needle. The heated reservoir is arranged to maintain a temperature of the organic ion source material at a magnitude sufficient to encourage capillary flow of the organic ion source material from the heated reservoir along the ionization needle to the tip of the needle.

Abstract: A water-borne resin composition which can be readily applied to treat fibrous substrates at ambient temperatures and which provides enhanced strength and rigidity for the substrate under both ambient as well as wet or humid conditions is provided. Preferably, paper substrates treated with the resin are capable of being repulped and recycled.

Abstract: Methods, memory devices, module boards and systems are disclosed utilizing a non-continuous conductive layer in their circuit board as opposed to a substrate having a continuous length of metal such as copper from one end to the other. By ensuring that a non-continuous conductive layer is no longer present in a substrate, deformation and warping of the substrate or circuit board can be reduced. This can reduce or prevent future errors in processing from occurring due to the tight tolerance required in processing of circuit boards.

Abstract: A two-stage, permanent-magnet, integral disk-motor centrifugal pump, has a housing having first and second suction ports and first and second discharge ports, the first discharge port being connected to the second suction port. A first impeller is rotatably disposed on a shaft between the first suction port and the first discharge port and a second impeller is placed back-to-back with the first impeller and rotatably disposed on a shaft between the second suction port and the second discharge port, each of the first and second impellers having a back shroud with an array of permanent magnets fixed thereto. A first stator and a second stator are interposed between and adjacent to the first and second impellers, respectively, the rotational speed of the impellers being controlled by invertors acting upon the stators. Provisions are also included for extracting motor heat from the pump.

Abstract: An emergency extrication collar including a flexible band for encircling the wearer's neck, and a chin support member which may be readily adjusted in elevation with respect to the band so as to permit adjustment to fit patients having varying neck sizes. The chin support member is connected to the band by means of a post which is slidably connected to a vertical strap on the band, and such that the elevation of the chin support member above the post, and thus the neck size of the collar, may be adjusted by simply sliding the post and chin support upwardly to any selected size between the size extremes. A pawl and ratchet interconnection between the post and strap precludes movement in the opposite direction. The collar is secured in its adjusted size by means of a locking arm which is pivotally mounted on the post, and movement of the locking arm to its release position also releases the pawl and ratchet interconnection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing ordered parts by from non-ordered liquid crystal monomers. Liquid crystal monomers contain stiff, rod-like mesogenic segments which can be aligned by an external force such as shear, electric field or magnetic field, causing an anisotropy in properties. When cured in the aligned stated by photopolymerizing the aligned monomers the anisotropic structure is “locked in” resulting in materials with anisotropic physical and mechanical properties. The rigid structure of the mesogenic segments can result in cured networks with high glass transition temperatures if the spacer groups which connect the mesogenic core with the reactive end groups are kept short. Glass transition temperatures of postcured parts ranged from 75 to 148° C. depending on resin and processing conditions. A mechanical anisotropy on the order of two was measured for aligned samples.

Abstract: An encapsulated integrated circuit is provided including a semiconductor die, a printed circuit board, and an encapsulant. The printed circuit board is conductively coupled to the semiconductor die and comprises a laminate defining first and second major faces. The laminate includes a solder resist layer, an electrically conductive layer, and a bismaleimide triazine resin laminate including a selected laminated layer and an adjacent laminated layer. The electrically conductive layer is interposed between the solder resist layer and the underlying substrate. The selected laminated layer is disposed closer to the first major face than the adjacent laminated layer. The laminate includes at least one void formed therein so as to extend from one of the major faces through the solder resist layer and the electrically conductive layer at least as far as the adjacent laminated layer.

Abstract: A pouch label is constructed from only two plies, provides two distinct pockets, and can optionally provide additional labels or printed material including forms. The first ply forms the label ply while the second ply is a liner ply die cut into at least two component parts, such that a first liner portion is circumscribed by a second liner portion. An adhesive is applied between the label ply and the liner ply such that the second liner ply portion is releasably held against the label ply, and only a portion of the periphery of the first liner ply portion is secured to the label ply such that a pouch is formed with the back of the label ply. The pouch is formed because there is no adhesive within the perimeter of the first liner portion. The label ply preferably includes at least one line of weakening scored across the pouch portion and positioned such that tearing the label ply along the line of weakening opens the pouch formed between the label ply and the first liner ply.

Abstract: A mounting for poles of jumps in equestrian sport. A dish-shaped pole receiver suspended on a generally vertical rail can be connected together by bolts, then fixed to a stand. The bolts, which are flanged such that the shaft is not as wide as the head, extend in multi-segmented slots having serially connected narrow, wide and further narrow portions. The width of the narrow portion of the slot corresponds to approximately the width of the bolt shaft, while the wide portion of the slot is wide enough to accommodate the bolt head. The slot can secure the bolts by firstly introducing the bolt head into the wide portion of the slot, then engaging the shaft with the narrow part of the slot until the shaft comes in contact with the further narrow portion.

Abstract: A coating for a retroreflective document is provided which renders the surface of the document receptive to toners and inks printed thereon while not substantially interfering with the retroreflective properties of the underlying substrate. Methods for fabricating the document are also provided.

Abstract: A valve actuation system with cooperating pneumatic and hydraulic control features. Compressed pneumatic fluid is generated in a pneumatic fluid supply, and flows in response to requirements between a predetermined command signal and an existing position of a working fluid valve. Hydraulic fluid is pressurized by a pump, and stored within the system by an accumulator. A servo valve comprising a pneumatic fluid flow path and a hydraulic fluid flow path is included to facilitate the flow of hydraulic fluid through the servo valve hydraulic fluid path and a downstream actuator for the working fluid valve in proportion to changes in pneumatic fluid flow through the servo valve pneumatic fluid flow path. A saturated fluid feedback circuit is included to shut off the flow of pneumatic and hydraulic fluid during select periods, such periods typically coincident with static conditions within the actuator of the working fluid valve, thereby reducing pump duty cycle.

Abstract: Interconnections carrying the greatest currents within a semiconductor circuit are formed by an interconnect having at least one and commonly two or more ribs extending generally orthogonally from the interconnect line. The interconnect line is generally horizontal with the rib or ribs extending generally vertically downward from the interconnect line. The resulting interconnect occupies a surface area corresponding to that of the interconnect line yet includes the conductive material of both the interconnect line and the rib or ribs so that the interconnect has substantially less resistance than the interconnect line alone or the rib or ribs alone. The rib or ribs and interconnect line are produced from a conductive layer formed over an insulation layer after the insulation layer has been appropriately masked and etched.

Abstract: The temperature of a dry etch process of a semiconductor substrate in a plasma etch chamber is controlled to maintain selectivity while also providing a high etch rate by introducing one or more cooling steps into the etch process. To maintain selectivity of the etch as well as a high rate of etch, the formation of plasma is terminated prior to exceeding a predetermined maximum temperature at at least one selected location in the chamber. The temperature at the selected location is reduced prior to the resumption of plasma flow and etching. The plasma etch is then continued, and may optionally be terminated again to permit cooling, as needed, until etching has been completed.

Abstract: A barrier assembly. The barrier assembly includes at least one barrier stack having at least one barrier layer and at least one polymer layer. The barrier stack has an oxygen transmission rate of less than 0.005 cc/m2/day at 23° C. and 0% relative humidity, and an oxygen transmission rate of less than 0.005 cc/m2/day at 38° C. and 90% relative humidity. The barrier stack also has a water vapor transmission rate of less than 0.005 g/m2/day at 38° C. and 100% relative humidity. A method for making a barrier assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for processing a monolayer film and transferring the monolayer film to a substrate are provided.

Abstract: A thermochromic ink composition is provided for use on security documents such as checks which provides a reversible color change in response to heat. The ink composition includes a thermochromic aqueous slurry and an ink vehicle comprising either a phenolic modified rosin and a compatible oil, a styrene maleic anhydride resin and a glycol, or an acrylic resin varnish. The ink composition is printed on at least a portion of a substrate using letterpress printing methods and provides enhanced adhesion to toner when applied to areas of a substrate which are subsequently printed with a non-impact printing device such as a laser printer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided which improve the performance of electron imaging detectors by reducing the total interaction volume of the detector and/or reducing the energy converting volume of the detector. In one embodiment, a method for improving resolution and reducing noise in an imaging electron detector for an electron microscope is provided and includes the step of decelerating the energetic electrons either before the electrons interact with, or as the electrons interact with, the energy converting volume of an imaging electron detector. In other embodiments, the lateral spatial travel of energetic electrons is limited as they traverse the imaging electron detector, or, the extent of electron back scatter from the energetic electrons is limited.

Abstract: A method of adapting a connection structure forming part of a dictionary in a computer memory device is provided. The structure includes a plurality of interface connections and a plurality of non-interface connections, with each interface connection representing a symbol, and the presence or absence of a chain of non-interface connections in which the symbol is represented, and each non-interface connection representing a relationship between two symbols, two non-interface connections, a symbol and a non-interface connection, or a non-interface connection and a symbol. The method includes determining alternative relationships between pairs of symbols, non-interface connections, and symbols and non-interface connections within the structure, and removing existing non-interface connections from the structure and inserting new non-interface connections into the structure according to relative numbers of occurrences of the alternative relationships within the dictionary.